Berks' Best 2019 Computer Science finalists and nominees

Benjamin L. Chen of Wyomissing High School, Logan E. Kramer of Gov. Mifflin High School, MarissaJo A. Scheck ofMuhlenberg High School, Marcantonio Soda Jr. of Boyertown High School and Van M. Wirebach of Conrad Weiser High School were finalists.

Career or life goal highlights: Get a graduate degree (at least master's) and begin a career in some kind of engineering.

Post-high school plan: Attend the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering at Lehigh University to receive a bachelor's degree in an undecided kind of engineering. Additionally, I may pursue a minor in another kind of engineering. I plan to either continue for a graduate degree at Lehigh or work part time and attend another graduate school to receive at least a master's degree.

What others are saying: “Outside of class, I have always found Logan to be a very engaging young man with solid character and a pleasant personality. Possibly his strongest character trait is his compassion for others, which I have witnessed him exhibit on many occasions with assisting fellow classmates.” — Christopher Klusewitz, computer science teacher

What others are saying: “MarissaJo is a multitalented student athlete that helps bring an enthusiastic energy to the classroom and the Muhlenberg High School community.” — Robb Gourley, AP computer science teacher

Career or life goal highlights: My career goal is to attain a position in the field of computer science with a specialization in machine learning or artificial intelligence. My life goal is to be able to maintain my career as well as my family while managing to participate in mission work.

Post-high school plan: I plan to go to Carnegie Mellon to major in computer science and minor in mechanical and electrical engineering.

What others are saying: “Marc loves to write machine learning and artificial intelligence programs and will often spend his free time refining his skills. In addition to his programming skills, he often helps others in class fix their programs or guide them through the programming process. He is a very good student, a remarkable young man and deserves this award.” — James Hiryak, teacher

Van Wirebach

Van M. Wirebach

Conrad Weiser High School

Parents or guardians: Tony and Jodi Wirebach.

Activities highlights: class president (senior), National Honor Society (treasurer), member of computer science team, member of symphonic band (county, district and region band qualifier for euphonium), member of marching band (lower brass section leader), member of jazz band, member of senior chorus; member of Choraleers, cross-country team (captain, two-time state qualifier, and one-time Berks Division 1 All-Star team ), track and field team, winter track running club, FFA, JCL.

Career or life goal highlights: While at the United States Naval Academy, I plan to major in computer science or computer engineering and graduate with a bachelor's degree in science. After the Naval Academy, I plan to serve as a Marine officer for at least 20 years. Upon retiring from military life, I hope to work in the computer science field while continuing to pursue my interest in music.

Post-high school plan: I have accepted an offer of appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. I will be reporting for Plebe Summer in June. I will attend the USNA for four years and then fulfill a five-year commitment to the U.S. Navy (Marine option).

What others are saying: “He is probably also the most well-rounded student I have ever encountered, excelling not only at math and computer science, but also at athletics, music and other academics.” — Jed Schweigert, math and computer science teacher

Nominees

Jacob A. Dunst

Exeter High School

Parents or guardians: Julia Dunst.

Career or life goal highlights: A life goal for me is to be working with mathematics, possibly actuarial science.

Post-high school plan: Four-year college.

Miguel A. Hernandez

Reading High School

Parents or guardians: Gladys Hernandez.

Post-high school plan: Attend Lehigh University and study computer science. At Lehigh, I plan to work in the IT department or in student services to learn and gain the skills necessary to solve problems related to computers and technology.

Scott L. Horning

Schuylkill Valley High School

Parents or guardians: Joey and Sandy.

Career or life goal highlights: Work at NASA or a company that deals with engineering.

Post-high school plan: Go to Penn State Berks for two years and then go to the University Park campus for two more years majoring in physics and minoring in computer science.

Tyler J. Hulse

Tulpehocken High School

Parents or guardians: Jill and Jim Hulse.

Career or life goal highlights: I would like to be a freelance computer programmer, while also starting my own photography business on the side.

Post-high school plan: I plan on going to college for four years, and majoring in computer science, and minoring in business or photography.

Austin M. Johnson

Muhlenberg High School

Parents or guardians: Lori and Brian Johnson.

Career or life goal highlights: In terms of an overall goal I want for my life is ultimately to have a job that I can live comfortably with the salary but I want my job to in one way actually improve the world. I have looked into environmental engineering/ environmental mathematics in order to help sustain our Earth so I can one day have a family and kids who can live on a clean planet. And at the end of my life I want to be happy and surrounded by the people who I love and the ones who make me happy because I believe that that is what life is about.

Post-high school plan: I plan on attending Juniata College to study mathematics with other concentrations in environmental scene and computer science. After I get my undergraduate degree I plan on attending graduate school to either get a masters degree in environmental data science or environmental engineering.

Daniel H. Kopecky

Exeter High School

Parents or guardians: Susan Kopecky.

Career or life goal highlights: I would love to be a software engineer at a big company like Apple, Microsoft or Google. To start however, working at smaller software companies would also be great for me.

Post-high school plan: I will continue schooling at Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in software engineering.

Alex D. Lopez

Antietam High School

Parents or guardians: Rocio Zavala and Pablo Lopez.

Career or life goal highlights: My goal is to become a successful IT support specialist and to live a full and happy life.

Post-high school plan: Plan to attend Berks Technical Institute. Then, pursue my career as a IT support specialist.

Trenton D. Metcalfe

Hamburg High School

Parents or guardians: Terena and David Metcalfe.

Career or life goal highlights: I plan on using my mechanical engineering degree to pursue a job in robotics and engineering innovation. My current goal is to join a volunteer organization called Re-Creation. It is a group that tours the country performing for veterans.

Post-high school plan: I plan on going to Eastern University, where I will pursue a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in mechanical engineering.

Khanh N. Nguyen

Berks Catholic High School

Parents or guardians: Huyen Pham.

Career or life goal highlights: Career goal is being an ambitious math professor that always knows how to kindle the love for learning math in every student.

Post-high school plan: Attending a college in United States. Expected major is mathematics or applied mathematics

Adam J. Reifsnyder

Conrad Weiser High School

Parents or guardians: Darlene and Peter Reifsnyder.

Career or life goal highlights: To become a software engineer.

Post-high school plan: Earn a Bachelor of Science in computer science: software engineering online from Southern New Hampshire University.

Pierce N. Riley

Twin Valley High School

Parents or guardians: Tammy Zummo and Paul Riley.

Career or life goal highlights: I want to be become a cybersecurity specialist, travel around the world and see the northern lights

Post-high school plan: Attend Penn State for computer science, go into cybersecurity.

Zachary I. Roberts

Daniel Boone High School

Parents or guardians: Walter and Christel Roberts.

Career or life goal highlights: Electrical design engineer.

Post-high school plan: Attend York College of Pennsylvania for B.S. in electrical engineering.

Robert “Tripp” J. Sautner

Twin Valley High School

Parents or guardians: Bobby Sautner and Hope Ely.

Career or life goal highlights: I want to go into a prominent, promising and successful job within the computer science and technology field. I want to pursue my master's and also delve deeper into the upcoming field of artificial intelligence; similar to how computer science changed our society, I want to lead the charge with how artificial intelligence will someday change our society.

Post-high school plan: Post-high school I want to have a family and live with the satisfaction of knowing I can support my family in a strong, growing career. I want to be a leader of a development team tasked with designing software that will someday change the world.

Haley J. Savastano

Hamburg High School

Parents or guardians: Lori Nygard.

Career or life goal highlights: My career goal is to become a biomedical engineer because I want to be able to find ways that will be able to improve the lives of many.

Post-high school plan: I plan to attend the University of Tennessee, where not only will I be studying to become a biomedical engineer, but I will be rowing for their crew team as well.

Duncan J. Shober-Fernback

Wilson High School

Parents or guardians: Jon and Aimee Fernback, Mark Shober.

Career or life goal highlights: In my research of careers relating to computer science, I have seen many options that have aroused my curious mind. One major in particular is computer and cognitive science/artificialiIntelligence. Just imagining the possibilities with artificial intelligence makes me extremely excited, as it is inevitably going to completely change the relationship between people and technology. The incredible possibilities are endless. Although AI is one of my biggest interests, my main goal is to combine all of the things I love into a career with computer science. My dream would be to combine my love for computer science with music. In an age of superfast technology and sophisticated computer algorithms, art and science are fusing to producing some very interesting music. Being able to compose music with computers and devices run by code of my creation would be the perfect career for me, and would make me one of the very lucky few who wake up in the morning and are ecstatic that it is a workday.

Post-high school plan: I will be going to Lehigh University to obtain my BSE in computer science.

Ryan R. Troutman

Kutztown High School

Parents or guardians: Ryan and Angela Troutman.

Career or life goal highlights: Become a chemical engineer, play rugby at a collegiate level, to see as much of the world as I can.

Post-high school plan: Attend Penn State University Park for chemical engineering.

Gabriel P. Turoscy

Oley Valley High School

Parents or guardians: Lori and Thomas Turoscy.

Career or life goal highlights: Career in physics.

Post-high school plan: To go college for a master's or doctoral degree in physics.